Good thread. I too have actually OFFENDED people, particularly women, by calling them maam. Sorry it's habit for me to be polite LOL. I get the flustered look often, followed by the...."I'm not THAT old." What the hell? I'm only 30 but my kids all address me as maam, and they address their elders with sir and maam. I think it's rediculous that some people are actially so insecure about their age or whatever that they actually get offended by being addressed respectfully! I'll always be a polite person.
